Tyson Foods donates $240,000 to Mississippi Food Network

Tyson Foods announced March 27 that a $239,646 donation to Mississippi Food Network to help fund capital improvements designed to increase the food bank’s efficiency and reduce energy costs. The grant also will fund a mobile pantry program in Warren County to help provide food to families in need.

“We appreciate Tyson Foods’ investment in our food bank through this capital improvement funding,” said Charles Beady, CEO of Mississippi Food Network. “These warehouse improvements will allow us to better serve our member agencies and the people in need in our service area in Mississippi.”

The donation will fund renovation to the warehouse cooler and freezer, which is expected to save on costs of refrigeration, repairs and general maintenance, while adding storage space for 1.5 million pounds of refrigerated products. In addition, the installation of energy efficient lighting will reduce energy consumption by approximately 20 percent.

The donation also will fund the purchase of 108,000 pounds of fresh produce, 36,000 pounds of protein and 36,000 pounds of shelf-stable food to be distributed through community wide mobile pantries in Warren County. These pantries will be held at Warren Central High School and Hinds Community College-Vicksburg-Warren Campus from June 2018 through May 2019. The mobile pantry is expected to serve at least 250 families each month.

“Tyson Foods is a significant corporate partner in our fight against hunger through their donations of food, monetary funds and employee volunteer hours, and we appreciate their partnership,” said Beady.

In 2017, Mississippi Food Network distributed 21.4 million pounds of food through 430 agencies. The programs and services of MFN are designed to help support food insecure families.

“Mississippi has the highest incidence of food insecurity in the country,” said Debra Vernon, senior director of corporate social responsibility at Tyson Foods. “We are honored to join Mississippi Food Network in the fight against hunger and empower them to better serve communities around the state.”

Tyson Foods has three facilities in Mississippi and employs more than 3,600 in the state. The company also purchases cattle, grain, diesel and other utilities in Mississippi and estimates its annual statewide economic impact at more than $303.7 million.